Rajagopalan, J.-On 4th September, 1953, the Government of Madras, in the exercise of powers vested in it under section 7(i) of the Industrial Disputes Act (Act XIV of 1947), constituted a Special Industrial Tribunal to adjudicate the industrial disputes between the managements and workers of the Amalgamations Ltd., Madras, and its allied concerns, and appointed Mr. Justice Mack of the Madras High Court as the sole member of that Tribunal. The Tribunal gave its award on 8th February, 1954. By its order, dated 12th February, 1954, the Government of Madras directed the publication of that award, and the award was published in the Fort St. George Gazette on 17th February, 1954. Under section 17-A of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, that award became enforceable on the expiry of 30 days from the date of its publication. Section 20(3) of that Act provides:

"Proceedings before a Tribunal shall be deemed to have commenced on the date of the reference of a dispute for adjudication and such proceedings shall be deemed to have concluded on the date on which the award becomes enforceable under section 17-A.".

With reference to a publication in "The Mail" on 5th April, 1954, Mr. Justice Mack is

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